Episode 23 - "Now We Lay Him Down to Sleep!" (Printable Version)

The Morrow House

Paul sat at the kitchen table, starring down at a bowl of dry Cinnamon Toast Crunch and a carton of milk. He usually took the time out to cook him and his family a delicious breakfast but with Anthony in jail, the only thing that's been on his mind was getting him out. He poured the milk in the cereal with a frown as the images of Anthony in an orange jumpsuit standing behind bars played in his head.

"Daddy! The milk is overflowing!" Eva exclaimed walking into the kitchen dressed to kill. She grabbed a towel from the sink and wiped the table for her father.

"I apologize for that. I've got a lot on my mind." Paul muttered playing around in his cereal.

Eva wrapped her arms around her father's neck and softly rested her jaw on his shoulder, "I'm worried about Anthony too."

"William and I are going down to the prison today to see him."

"Daddy please tell Ant I love him." Eva begged walking to the refrigerator. "Where is mom?"

"She went down to the hospital to check on Travis."

Paul raised an eyebrow noticing his daughter in the black and white dress. Today was her day off so he'd figure she'd be somewhere resting. "I thought you took the rest of the week off from the news station?"

"I did."

Paul stood up dumped the cereal in the trash, "So where are you going?"

"Maurice's funeral is today and I want to make sure they bury his ass under the goddamn church."

San Diego Community Chapel

Michael Jackson's Gone Too Soon played softly in the background as people who knew and respected Maurice entered into the chapel to say their last goodbyes. The dark brown oak wood casket covered with a bouquet of yellow and white rose sat at the front of the chapel. At the front row, Sharon reached in her purse and threw on a pair of black sunglasses to hide the tears and dark circles under her eyes, as much as she tried to coach herself, burying Maurice today was something she couldn't bare.

Felicia sat down beside her sister and grabbed her hand holding it, "Are you okay?"

Sharon nodded unable to take her eyes off of Maurice's casket, "This is going to be so hard."

"Everything will be okay...I promise."

Sharon looked at Felicia as tears continued to stream down her face, "okay." she whisper laying her head on Felicia's shoulder.

Alex approached the front pew adjusting his tye, he smiled weakly at Sharon and Felicia. "Felicia thanks for coming." 

Felicia smiled, "I would be anywhere else but by my sister's side." she replied softly. 

Sharon looked up at Alex through her sunglasses "Jasmine couldn't make it?" 

Alex shook his head, "She had to wrap a few things up at the office." 

"What about Bradley is he coming?"

Sharon sniffled a bit, "Office as well. He hates funerals."

Alex looked up and glared watching Paige sitting down in the third view from back. "Why the hell is she here?"

Sharon and Felicia looked back and watched Paige as she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. She look up and smiled at them then frown at their unpleasant glares...Maybe this was a bad idea.

St Marks Memorial Hospital

The heart monitor beep reminded Melanie that Travis was still alive, as she sat by his bedside holding his hand. These were the longest three days that Melanie ever endured, so much had took place. She was unsure of which event was more tragic, finding out her husband of over thirty years cheating on her or almost losing Travis in an accident cause by the woman who Demetrius slept with. She looked at the bandages across the bridge of his nose and upper lip, they seemed to remind her of when Travis was first born and the doctors had to repair his kelp lip. Melanie knew her son was fighter and smiled sure that he would recover from this. She leaned and kissed Travis on his forehead.

"I love you son."

Demetrius quietly walked into the hospital room and laid an overnight bag on the counter, he'd been staying at the hospital with Travis since his affair was broadcast over the news. He looked at Melanie swallowing hard this was the first time the two had actually been alone, since she found out about the affair.

"How are you?" he asked softly.

"Considering...I'm doing fine!" she answered coldly without taking her eyes off of Travis.

Demetrius nodded his head he expected Melanie to act this way after all he did sleep with another woman, "I deserve that."

Melanie shot a icy glance at Demetrius, "You don't get to say what you deserve, because you deserve a lot more!"

"Melanie, goddamnit what do you want to me do?"

"This is not the time or the place for this conversation and I don't think it's a conversation that I'm going to have with you!"

Demetrius frowned this distance between him and Melanie was killing him, "So you're just going to push our issues to the side?"

"Demetrius go to hell!" Melanie snarled before storming out of the room.

San Diego State Prison

Paul paced around the private waiting room that William arranged for them to see Anthony, he tried to prepare himself to see Anthony in that ugly orange jumpsuit. He looked at his long time friend and frowned. "William I'm not sure if I can do this?"

William gave a weak smile, something he hadn't done in a while after finding out about his wife and Demetrius. "Good buddy, everything is going to work out fine."

"What if he spends the rest of his..."

"...Paul, he won't. I'm going to do everything I can to keep that from happening."

The black steel door opened, two prison guard escorted Anthony in, Paul rushed to embrace his son but was stopped by one of guards. "No contact sir." the guard uttered coldly.

Paul took a few steps back and watched his son sit down, depression masked itself all over Anthony's face. Paul sat down in the chair and grabbed his son's hand.

"Sir I told you, no contact!"

William shot a cold glance at the guard, "I know you have some sense of human decency...use it!"

Anthony looked at his father and sighed holding his hands just as tight, "Is everyone ok?"

Paul exhaled just hearing Anthony's voice made took some of his worries away, "They're fine...we just want you to come home."

"Which will be soon." William stated with a confident grin.

San Diego Community Chapel

Sharon walked up to the casket holding a single yellow rose, she wiped the tears from her eyes, and laid the rose on the coffin. She exhaled, as turned and faced everyone, she looked around surprised that so many people showed up for Maurice's funeral. She became speechless for a moment noticing Eva sitting down in the front pew on her right.  Her bottom lip quivered as she began to speak,

"Maurice was the first person I met, when I started high school. He and his friends at the time... Travis Sterling and Anthony Morrow took me in and they made me an honorary member of their "crew"." she explained with a halfway smile.

Eva sighed listening to all of the bullshit that Sharon was saying about Maurice. The dirty bastard ruined his brother's life and she was glad that Anthony sent his ass to hell. She sighed wanting Sharon to stop, if she continued to she was going to have to put an end to all of Sharon's lies.

Sharon's voice began to crack as she turned to Maurice's picture, "Thank you Maurice...for everything. You taught me so much and I'm glad to have called and will still call you my best friend, I love you."

"I really don't see how anyone could say such things about a man who has ruined so many people's lives!" Eva scolded loudly walking up to the front of the chapel.

"Don't do this Eva!" Alex warned as he stood up ready to escort her out.

"Did any of you forget that man slept with my brother's wife?" Eva asked pointing at the casket then at Paige in the back. Paige gasped embarrassed then covered her face with the program to hide herself from all of the piercing stares that judged her.

"Eva, you will not ruin this!" Sharon coldly stated approaching her, "Now sit down!"

"I'll sit down after everyone in this room knows what kind of person Maurice Braswell really was!"

St. Marks Memorial Hospital

Melanie stood outside of Travis' hospital room with her hand over her mouth, hiding from the pain she felt as she cried softly, the pain of being in the same room with Demetrius was just too much for her right now. She wanted everything to be over...now.

The elevator doors opened, with Leona walking out with basket of fruits from the bistro, she came around the corner and laid the basket on the nurses desk and hurried over and embraced Melanie noticing her crying, "Melanie, it's going to be okay sweetie!"

Melanie held her best friend tightly, "This is too much...It's just too much."

"How is Travis?" Leona asked taking a few steps back.

Melanie shook her head wiping her tears away, "He's still the same."

Leona crossed her arms, "Then what's wrong I don't understand...why are you standing out here crying?"

"I wish Demetrius hadn't done this to us! Leona, he threw away our life together."

Leona rubbed Melanie's arm, "Listen...just focus on Travis getting better. Time will tell you what to do with Demetrius."

Melanie nodded holding herself then she frowned remembering Leona's situation, "How is Anthony? I heard on the news that he turned himself in."

Leona sighed she wished Melanie hadn't brought him up, "Paul and William are going to see him today...I just want to make everything better for him. Anthony never did anything wrong."

"Maybe it's a good thing Travis is in a coma...I don't think he could've handled any of this." she whispered followed by a soft rumble from her stomach.

Leona nodded a bit agreeing with Melanie then giggled hearing her stomach, "Have you had anything to eat?"

"No...I haven't had time."

Leona grabbed Melanie's arms leading her to elevator, "Come I'll fix you something at the bistro."

"We could all use a change of scenery."

San Diego State Prison

Anthony sat back in his chair fiddling nervously with his thumbs, he looked at William exhaling, "So what's next? What do I need to do now?"

William sat his briefcase of the table, "Plead insanity." he instructed.

"Insanity?" Anthony questioned. "Why would I do that?"

William pulled out a written document from some of the officers he questions in preparation from the trial, "Do you want to spend most of life in jail?"

"Well of course not...but what judge is going to believe I was out of mind when I shot Maurice."

Paul crossed his arms and looked at Anthony, "Son, I think you should listen to William. Things are not looking good for you."

"Dad tell me something I don't know!" Anthony snapped becoming frustrated, he wondered how in the hell could he pull something like that off. He knew William was a good lawyer but he feared he was off his game since finding out about Felicia.

"You acted irrational Anthony, if we could can get a judge to believe that you weren't in your right state of mind, you'll probably get a few years of probation. No more than a year in prison." William explained. "You have to trust me on this one."

Anthony looked at his father, "Dad what you do think?"

"I think you should do whatever it takes to get you out of jail." Paul replied struggling not to cry.

Anthony shook his head, confused by this whole situation. He got up and motioned for the guard. "I have to think about this okay."

Paul and William nodded, "Ok." William answered.

"Son please be safe...everything is going to be ok. Don't worry." Paul assured him.

"Too late for that."

St Marks Memorial Hospital

Demetrius sat by Travis' bedside and watched him sleep just like he used to when Travis was a newborn. Demetrius loved all of his children but Travis was his right hand man. It killed him inside knowing that he sent Travis out on the road during that horrible storm. He looked at his son, then wiped his face, then smiled grabbing Travis' hand.

"I don't know if you can hear me but..."

"...son I never meant for anything of this to happen." he whispered. "Disappointing you, your brother and your sisters is something I never wanted to do!"

He looked down, "I think I have son."

"Travis if you could just wake up. I know it would be the best thing for your mom right now."

Demetrius laughed embarrassed to tell him about what has happened since his been in the coma, "I...I...slept with Felicia. Been sleeping with her for months now and the secret is out."

"Everyone hates me, your mom is barely talking to me. I really don't know what's going to happen next."

Demetrius growled becoming angry, "It scares me, son. I don't want to lose Melanie, but I think it's going to happen."

Melanie slowly crept in not wanting Demetrius to hear her enter, she stopped halfway in listening to his "confessional" to Travis.

"Travis, I don't know what I'll do if I lose your mother."

Melanie looked at Demetrius feeling sorry for him, but it quickly left as an image of Demetrius and Felicia sharing a passionate kiss popped in her head. Melanie shook her head in disguise and quickly hurried out of the room. She needed to get away.

San Diego Community Chapel

Alex quickly approached Eva and lead her to a corner near the front of the church, "What the hell is wrong with you?" growled quietly.

"How can any of you celebrate the life of a demon."  Eva pushed past Alex and stormed back to the front of the church, Sharon wiped the tears from her eyes and approached Eva, "I think you've done enough!"

Eva laughed in Sharon's face as she crossed her arms, "I haven't even started."

"And you're not going to because you are going to stop now!" Felicia commanded approaching Eva.

"Eva, if you don't have anything nice to say then you need to leave."

Eva shot a glare at Felicia, "Have the Sterlings put a hit out for you yet?"

"Alright now, Eva that's below the belt!" Alex exclaimed reluctantly coming to Felicia's defense.

"You know if you'd mind your own business, a lot of this mess wouldn't have happened. Demetrius and I were going to fix things!"

Eva grinned evilly, "Don't explain yourself to me...my last name isn't Sterling. Felicia I was simply doing my job."

"So I apologize if you feel some kind of way about getting caught with your skirt up!"

"Eva!" Sharon shouted, she wanted all of this madness to stop.

Eva approached Felicia tapped her on the shoulder, "Next time...lock the door!" she whispered.

Felicia slowly balled her hand into a fist. Who the hell was Eva to taunt her, she took those pictures then showed them on the news. Felicia swing at Eva and connected her fist with Eva's right eye sending her to the floor. Felicia fixed her dress and took her seat, "Sharon! Please continue."

St Mark Memorial Hospital

Melanie walked into Travis' room, she looked around to see if Demetrius was in the room. She sighed in relief that he wasn't in the room. She looked at Travis and gasped to find him sitting up staring back at her.

"Travis, sweetheart?"

"Hey Mother." he whispered softly, then looked around becoming confused, "What's going on? Why am I in the hospital?"

Tears of joy quickly flowed from Melanie eyes as she rushed to his bedside and grabbed her son's and, "Oh thank god our prayers have been answered."

"My son is awake!"

*****

...Forever Never Seems That Long...

Next Time on Forever & A Day

Lisa and Bonita bump heads.

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